GRAND RAPIDS -- Students often call Gordy VanHaitsma when their bicycles break down.

"OK, bring it on in," the Oakdale Christian Elementary custodian tells them, even if he hasn't seen them for a while.

"Mr. Gordy" fixes the bikes and asks the owners what they've been reading lately -- that's how they got their bikes from him in the first place.

For the past few years, VanHaitsma has refurbished bicycles and given them to local students who read 15 books.

Now, he is receiving national recognition for his efforts.

VanHaitsma is a finalist for the "People All-Stars Among Us" campaign, which recognizes efforts to improve communities.

Sponsored by People magazine and Major League Baseball, the program is in its second year. Nominations have been narrowed to 90 finalists, three representing each of the 30 major league clubs.

From there, online votes will determine 30 winners, who will be honored at the July 13 All-Star Game, during pre-game ceremonies in Anaheim, Calif. In addition, one winner will be featured in People magazine.

After an Oakdale teacher nominated VanHaitsma in early May, he figured he would go along with it. He found he was a finalist and got a call from someone with the Detroit Tigers, who asked if he could throw the first pitch in a June 15 game.

Mr. Gordy enjoys baseball but had to decline -- he'll be having eye surgery next week.

Oakdale staff and students have been encouraging others to vote for VanHaitsma, Principal Eric Burgess said. Burgess is urging friends to vote for the custodian on his Facebook site.

FACT BOX

People magazine and Major League Baseball are sponsoring the contest to recognize those who try to better their communities. Number of finalists: 90 -- three per MLB team -- with Gordy VanHaitsma as one of three finalists for the Detroit Tigers.

Winners: 30 winners will be honored during baseball's All-Star Game at 8 p.m. July 13 in Anaheim, Calif.

"It's sort of viral marketing, so to speak, on his behalf," Burgess said, adding that Mr. Gordy isn't the kind of person to promote himself.

The other two Michigan finalists are Ed Deeb, of Detroit, and Willie Johnson, of Oak Park. Deeb co-founded Detroit Youth Day, which offers entertainment, scholarships and community service awards to kids. Johnson developed a youth mentoring program that stemmed from an annual Fourth of July basketball tournament that he hosts in his backyard.

VanHaitsma's program, which relies on help from teachers and parents to keep track of the reading, is small. He said he likes to be able to keep in touch with -- and check up on -- the students he helps.

He's had to make some changes to how he does the program, but the goal is the same: Get kids to read early.

"It's easy to give somebody something," he said. "But when they earn it, they invest in it."